Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program, 3387-3392 [2024-00151]

Download as PDF khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2024 / Notices for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by March 18, 2024. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Mail: Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparency, Regulatory Directorate, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09, Alexandria, VA 22350– 1700. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the internet at https:// www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to Boris Kun, OASD Readiness (Force Education & Training), 4000 Defense Pentagon Room 1E537, Washington DC 20301–4000. Borris Kun, (619) 908–9581. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Climate Literacy Pulse Check; OMB Control Number: 0704–CLPC. Needs and Uses: Climate change is one of many threat multipliers to National Security, which adds complexity to the decisions made by the DoD. It is a priority of the DoD to ensure that support to the department’s missions takes climate considerations into account, especially how the adverse impacts of a changing climate can complicate and impede DoD missions. This pulse check is intended for DoD personnel who provide various aspects of support to the warfighter—whether in OSD, Defense Agencies, the Joint Staff, VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Jan 17, 2024 Jkt 262001 combatant commands, and the Services—to understand how climate change affects their work and what education, training, and resources they require to continue executing their mission in the context of a changing climate. Affected Public: Individuals or households. Annual Burden Hours: 1,417. Number of Respondents: 8,500. Responses per Respondent: 1. Annual Responses: 8,500. Average Burden per Response: 10 minutes. Frequency: Annually. Dated: January 10, 2024. Aaron T. Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 2024–00905 Filed 1–17–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6001–FR–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary [Docket ID: DoD–2023–OS–0072] Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (OUSD(P&R)), Department of Defense (DoD). ACTION: 30-Day information collection notice. AGENCY: The DoD has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act. DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by February 20, 2024. SUMMARY: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lane Purvis, (571) 372–0460, whs.mcalex.esd.mbx.dd-dod-informationcollections@mail.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Memorandum of Agreement Between Military Service and School District to Establish and Operate a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3387 Unit; DD Form 3202; OMB Control Number: 0704–JRPF. Type of request: New. Number of Respondents: 6,694. Responses per Respondent: 1. Annual Responses: 1. Average Burden per Response: 10 minutes. Annual Burden Hours: 1,116. Needs and Uses: This information is needed to confirm that school districts understand and acknowledge their responsibilities in hosting a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program and understand DoD’s expectations for the performance of their duties and conduct in the execution thereof. Affected Public: Individuals or households. Frequency: On occasion. Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. OMB Desk Officer: Ms. Jasmeet Seehra. You may also submit comments and recommendations, identified by Docket ID number and title, by the following method: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, Docket ID number, and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the internet at https:// www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information. DOD Clearance Officer: Mr. Lane Purvis. Requests for copies of the information collection proposal should be sent to Mr. Purvis at whs.mc-alex.esd.mbx.dddod-information-collections@mail.mil. Dated: January 10, 2024. Aaron T. Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 2024–00902 Filed 1–17–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6001–FR–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting applications SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM 18JAN1 3388 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2024 / Notices for fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) Program, Assistance Listing Numbers 84.021A and 84.021B. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1840–0792. DATES: Applications Available: January 18, 2024. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 18, 2024. Pre-Application Webinar Information: The Department will hold a preapplication webinar for prospective applicants. Detailed information regarding this webinar will be provided on the GPA website at www2.ed.gov/ programs/iegpsgpa/. Additionally, for prospective applicants that have never received a grant from the Department and those that are interested in learning more about the process, please review the grant funding basics resource at www2.ed.gov/ documents/funding-101/funding-101basics.pdf. For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at www.federalregister.gov/documents/ 2022/12/07/2022-26554/commoninstructions-for-applicants-todepartment-of-education-discretionarygrant-programs. Please note that these Common Instructions supersede the version published on December 27, 2021. ADDRESSES: Cory Neal, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 704–3437. Email: GPA@ed.gov. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7–1–1. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Full Text of Announcement khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Fulbright-Hays GPA Program is to promote, improve, and develop the study of modern foreign languages and area studies in the United States. The program provides opportunities for faculty, teachers, and undergraduate and graduate students to conduct group projects overseas. Projects may include either (1) short-term seminars, curriculum development, or group VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Jan 17, 2024 Jkt 262001 research or study, or (2) long-term advanced intensive language programs. This competition invites applicants to submit an application to request support for either a Fulbright-Hays GPA shortterm project (GPA short-term project 84.021A) or a Fulbright-Hays GPA longterm project (GPA long-term project 84.021B). Applicants must clearly indicate on the SF 424, the Application for Federal Assistance cover sheet, whether they are applying for a GPA short-term project (84.021A) or a GPA long-term project (84.021B). Additional submission requirements are included in the application package. There are three types of GPA shortterm projects: (1) short-term seminar projects of 4 to 6 weeks in length designed by the applicant to help participants integrate international studies into the curriculum at an institution of higher education (IHE) or a school system when they return to the United States, by focusing on a particular aspect of area studies, such as the culture of an area or country of study (34 CFR 664.11); (2) curriculum development projects of 4 to 8 weeks in length that provide participants the opportunity to acquire resource materials for curriculum development in modern foreign language and area studies for use and dissemination in the United States (34 CFR 664.12); and (3) group research or study projects of 3 to 12 months in duration designed to give participants the opportunity to undertake research or study in a foreign country (34 CFR 664.13). GPA long-term projects are advanced overseas intensive language programs designed by the applicant that may be carried out during a full year, an academic year, a semester, a trimester, a quarter, or a summer. GPA long-term projects provide participants an opportunity to use and strengthen their advanced language training while experiencing the culture in the foreign country. Participants should have successfully completed at least 2 academic years of training in the language to be studied to be eligible to participate in a GPA intensive advanced language training program. In addition, the language to be studied must be indigenous to the host country and maximum use must be made of local institutions and personnel (34 CFR 664.14). Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and five competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priority is from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 664.32). Competitive Preference Priorities 1 and 2 are from the notice of final priorities and PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 definitions published in the Federal Register on June 16, 2016 (81 FR 39196) (the 2016 NFP); Competitive Preference Priority 3 is from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 664.32); Competitive Preference Priority 4 is from the notice of final priorities published in the Federal Register on September 24, 2010 (75 FR 59050) (the 2010 NFP); and Competitive Preference Priority 5 is from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 664.32). Absolute Priority: For FY 2024, and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority. This priority is: Specific Geographic Regions of the World. A group project that focuses on one or more of the following geographic regions of the world: Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, the Western Hemisphere (Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean), Eastern and Central Europe and Eurasia, and the Near East. Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2024, there are five competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award 3 additional points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1; 2 additional points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 2; 2 additional points for short-term projects or 4 additional points for longterm projects to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 3; 2 additional points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 4; and 2 additional points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 5. Applicants for GPA short-term projects may address Competitive Preference Priorities 1, 3, 4, and 5. Applicants for GPA long-term projects may address Competitive Preference Priorities 2 and 3. In the application narrative, an applicant must indicate the priority or priorities being addressed, provide a substantive description of how the proposed activities support the applicant’s selected priority or priorities, and provide documentation supporting such claims. These priorities are: Competitive Preference Priority 1—Applications for GPA Short-Term Projects from Selected Institutions and Organizations (3 Points). Applications for GPA short-term projects from the following types of institutions and organizations: • Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) (as defined in this notice); E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM 18JAN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2024 / Notices • Community colleges (as defined in this notice); • New applicants (as defined in this notice); or • State educational agencies (SEAs) (as defined in this notice). Competitive Preference Priority 2— Applications for GPA Long-Term Projects from MSIs (2 Points). Applications for GPA long-term advanced overseas intensive language training projects from MSIs. Competitive Preference Priority 3— Substantive Training and Thematic Focus on Less Commonly Taught Languages (2 Points for short-term projects or 4 Points for long-term projects). Applications that propose GPA shortterm projects (2 points) or GPA longterm projects (4 points) that provide substantive training and thematic focus on any modern foreign language except French, German, or Spanish. Competitive Preference Priority 4— Inclusion of K–12 Educators (2 Points). Applications that propose short-term projects abroad that develop and improve foreign language studies, area studies, or both at elementary and secondary schools by including K–12 teachers or K–12 administrators as at least 50 percent of the project participants. Competitive Preference Priority 5— Thematic Focus on Academic Fields (2 Points). Applications that propose short-term projects abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies with an academic focus on any of the following academic fields: science, technology, engineering, mathematics, computer science, education (comparative or international), international development, political science, public health, or economics. Definitions: The following definitions are from the 2016 NFP and apply to this competition. Community college means an institution that meets the definition in section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1058(f)); or an IHE (as defined in section 101 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that awards degrees and certificates, more than 50 percent of which are not bachelor’s degrees (or an equivalent). Minority-serving institution (MSI) means an institution that is eligible to receive assistance under sections 316 through 320 of part A of title III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the HEA. New applicant means any applicant that has not received a discretionary grant from the Department of Education under the Fulbright-Hays Act prior to VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Jan 17, 2024 Jkt 262001 the deadline date for applications under this program. State educational agency (SEA) means the State board of education or other agency or officer primarily responsible for the supervision of public elementary and secondary schools in a State. In the absence of this officer or agency, it is an officer or agency designated by the Governor or State law. Program Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2452(b)(6). Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal civil rights laws. Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, and 86. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 664. (e) The 2010 NFP. (f) The 2016 NFP. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only. II. Award Information Type of Award: Discretionary grants. Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested $10,311,000 for awards for the Fulbright-Hays Overseas program for FY 2024, of which we intend to use an estimated $5,159,494 for this competition. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program. Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in future fiscal years from the list of unfunded applications from this competition. Estimated Available Funds: $5,159,494. Estimated Range of Awards: GPA short-term projects: $50,000– $180,000. GPA long-term projects: $50,000– $300,000. Estimated Average Size of Awards: GPA short-term projects: $132,474. PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3389 GPA long-term projects: $250,663. Maximum Award: We will not make a GPA short-term award exceeding $180,000 for a single project period of 18 months. We will not make a GPA long-term project award exceeding $300,000 for a single budget period of 24 months. Estimated Number of Awards: 30. GPA short-term projects: 20. GPA long-term projects: 10. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: GPA short-term projects: Up to 18 months. GPA long-term projects: Up to 24 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants: (1) IHEs, (2) SEAs, (3) private nonprofit educational organizations, and (4) consortia of these entities. Eligible Participants: Citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States, who are (1) faculty members who teach modern foreign languages or area studies at an IHE, (2) teachers in elementary or secondary schools, (3) experienced education administrators responsible for planning, conducting, or supervising programs in modern foreign language or area studies at the elementary, secondary, or postsecondary levels, or (4) graduate students, or juniors or seniors in an IHE, who plan teaching careers in modern foreign languages or area studies. Note: If you are a nonprofit organization, under 34 CFR 75.51, you may demonstrate your nonprofit status by providing: (1) proof that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private shareholder or individual; (3) a certified copy of the applicant’s certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4) any item described above if that item applies to a State or national parent organization, together with a statement by the State or parent organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost sharing or matching. 3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award subgrants to E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM 18JAN1 3390 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2024 / Notices khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES entities to directly carry out project activities described in its application. 4. Build America, Buy America Act: This program is not subject to the Build America, Buy America Act (Pub. L. 117– 58) domestic sourcing requirements. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at www.federalregister.gov/ documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/ common-instructions-for-applicants-todepartment-of-education-discretionarygrant-programs, which contain requirements and information on how to submit an application. Please note that these Common Instructions supersede the version published on December 27, 2021. 2. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 3. Funding Restrictions: We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR 664.33. We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. 4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the application narrative to no more than 40 pages and (2) use the following standards: • A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. • Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs. • Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch). • Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial. The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet or budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the assurance and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, the biography, or letters of support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the application narrative. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Jan 17, 2024 Jkt 262001 V. Application Review Information 1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are from 34 CFR 664.31 and are as follows: (a) Plan of operation. (20 points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the project. (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows— (i) High quality in the design of the project; (ii) An effective plan of management that ensures proper and efficient administration of the project; (iii) A clear description of how the objectives of the project relate to the purpose of the program; (iv) The way the applicant plans to use its resources and personnel to achieve each objective; and (v) A clear description of how the applicant will ensure that project participants who are otherwise eligible to participate are selected without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or handicapping condition. (b) Quality of key personnel. (10 points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information to determine the quality of key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project. (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows— (i) The qualifications of the project director; (ii) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be used in the project; (iii) The time that each person referred to in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section will commit to the project; and (iv) The extent to which the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or handicapping condition. (3) To determine the qualifications of a person, the Secretary considers evidence of past experience and training in fields related to the objectives of the project as well as other information that the applicant provides. (c) Budget and cost effectiveness. (10 points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows that the project has an adequate budget and is cost effective. (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows— (i) The budget for the project is adequate to support the project activities; and PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the project. (d) Evaluation plan. (20 points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the evaluation plan for the project. (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows that the methods of evaluation are appropriate for the project and, to the extent possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable. (e) Adequacy of resources. (5 points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows that the applicant plans to devote adequate resources to the project. (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows that the facilities, equipment, and supplies that the applicant plans to use are adequate. (f) Specific program criteria. (35 points) (1) In addition to the general selection criteria contained in this section, the Secretary reviews each application for information that shows that the project meets the specific program criteria. (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows— (i) The potential impact of the project on the development of the study of modern foreign languages and area studies in American education. (15 points) (ii) The project’s relevance to the applicant’s educational goals and its relationship to its program development in modern foreign languages and area studies. (10 points) (iii) The extent to which direct experience abroad is necessary to achieve the project’s objectives and the effectiveness with which relevant host country resources will be utilized. (10 points) 2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as the applicant’s use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or submitted a report of unacceptable quality. In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary requires various assurances, including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving Federal financial E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM 18JAN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2024 / Notices assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). For FY 2024, proposed GPA shortterm projects will be reviewed by peer review panels with expertise in the world area that is the focus of the application. All proposed GPA longterm projects will be reviewed by one peer review panel. The International and Foreign Language Education office will prepare separate rank order slates for GPA short-term projects and GPA long-term projects recommended for new awards in FY 2024. Each slate will include the peer reviewers’ scores for all applications evaluated, from the highest score to the lowest score. In cases where several applications have the same final numerical score in the rank order listing, and there are insufficient funds to support all the applications, the scores under selection criterion (f)(2)(iii) will be used as a tiebreaker. If the scores remain tied, then the scores under selection criterion (f)(2)(i) will be used to break the tie. 3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 200.206, before awarding grants under this competition the Department conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 200.208, the Secretary may impose specific conditions and, under 2 CFR 3474.10, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or other management system that does not meet the standards in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible. 4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this competition to receive an award that over the course of the project period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000), under 2 CFR 200.206(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards—that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant—before we make an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)), accessible through the System for Award Management (SAM). You may review and comment on any information about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and that is currently in FAPIIS. Please note that, if the total value of your currently active grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Jan 17, 2024 Jkt 262001 from the Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 200, appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 CFR part 200, appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal funds you receive exceed $10,000,000. 5. In General: In accordance with Uniform Guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice inviting applications in accordance with— (a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an objective process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205); (b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115–232) (2 CFR 200.216); (c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR 200.322); and (d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340). VI. Award Administration Information 1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally, also. If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you. 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the application package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant. 3. Open Licensing Requirements: Unless an exception applies, if you are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to openly license PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3391 to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to those modifications that can be separately identified and only to the extent that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses or other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works. Additionally, a grantee or subgrantee that is awarded competitive grant funds must have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables. This dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For additional information on the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR 3474.20. 4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b). (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/ fund/grant/apply/appforms/ appforms.html. 5. Performance Measures: For the purposes of Department reporting under 34 CFR 75.110, the following measure will be used by the Department to evaluate the success of the GPA shortterm program: the percentage of GPA short-term project participants who disseminated information about or materials from their group project abroad through more than one outreach activity within 6 months of returning to their home institution. The following measure will be used by the Department to evaluate the success of the GPA longterm program: the percentage of GPA long-term project participants who increased their reading, writing, and/or listening/speaking foreign language scores by one proficiency level. The efficiency of the GPA long-term program will be measured by considering the cost per GPA participant who increased his/her foreign language score in E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM 18JAN1 3392 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2024 / Notices reading, writing, and/or listening/ speaking by at least one proficiency level. The information provided by grantees in their performance reports submitted via the International Resource Information System (IRIS) will be the source of data for this measure. Reporting screens for institutions can be viewed at: https://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/ gpa_director.pdf and https://iris.ed.gov/ iris/pdfs/gpa_participant.pdf. VII. Other Information Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format. Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site. You may also access documents of the Department published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department. Nasser H. Paydar, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 2024–00151 Filed 1–17–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES [Docket No.: ED–2024–SCC–0013] Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2024 Amendment #4 National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Department of Education (ED). AGENCY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Jan 17, 2024 Jkt 262001 ACTION: Notice. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing a revision of a currently approved information collection request (ICR). DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before February 20, 2024. ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for proposed information collection requests should be submitted within 30 days of publication of this notice. Click on this link www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAMain to access the site. Find this information collection request (ICR) by selecting ‘‘Department of Education’’ under ‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ then check the ‘‘Only Show ICR for Public Comment’’ checkbox. Reginfo.gov provides two links to view documents related to this information collection request. Information collection forms and instructions may be found by clicking on the ‘‘View Information Collection (IC) List’’ link. Supporting statements and other supporting documentation may be found by clicking on the ‘‘View Supporting Statement and Other Documents’’ link. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Carrie Clarady, (202) 245–6347. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records. Title of Collection: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2024 Amendment #4. OMB Control Number: 1850–0928. Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved ICR. Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or households. Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 860,132. Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 474,255. Abstract: The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), is a federally authorized survey of student achievement at grades 4, 8, and 12 in various subject areas, such as mathematics, reading, writing, science, U.S. history, civics, geography, economics, technology and engineering literacy (TEL), and the arts. The National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (Pub. L. 107–279, title III, section 303) requires the assessment to collect data on specified student groups and characteristics, including information organized by race/ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, disability, and limited English proficiency. It requires fair and accurate presentation of achievement data and permits the collection of background, noncognitive, or descriptive information that is related to academic achievement and aids in fair reporting of results. The intent of the law is to provide representative sample data on student achievement for the nation, the states, and subpopulations of students and to monitor progress over time. NAEP consists of two assessment programs: the NAEP long-term trend (LTT) assessment and the main NAEP assessment. The LTT assessments are given at the national level only and are administered to students at ages 9, 13, and 17 in a manner that is very different from that used for the main NAEP assessments. LTT reports mathematics and reading results that present trend data since the 1970s. In addition to the operational assessments, NAEP uses two other kinds of assessment activities: pilot assessments and special studies. Pilot assessments test items and procedures for future administrations of NAEP, while special studies (including the National Indian Education Study (NIES), the Middle School Transcript Study (MSTS), and the High School Transcript Study (HSTS)) are opportunities for NAEP to investigate particular aspects of the assessment without impacting the reporting of the NAEP results. The initial request for clearance of NAEP 2024 received OMB approval in April 2023 (OMB #1850–0928 v.28). Amendment #1 to the NAEP 2024 clearance package received OMB approval in June 2023 (OMB #1850– 0928 v.29), Amendment #2 was approved in August 2023, and Amendment #3 was approved in November 2023. Since November 2023, NCES made the decision to make adjustments to the school-based equipment survey and increased the estimated burden from 5 minutes to 10 E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM 18JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 12 (Thursday, January 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3387-3392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00151]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad 
Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting 
applications

[[Page 3388]]

for fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad 
(GPA) Program, Assistance Listing Numbers 84.021A and 84.021B. This 
notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control 
number 1840-0792.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: January 18, 2024.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 18, 2024.
    Pre-Application Webinar Information: The Department will hold a 
pre-application webinar for prospective applicants. Detailed 
information regarding this webinar will be provided on the GPA website 
at www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsgpa/. Additionally, for 
prospective applicants that have never received a grant from the 
Department and those that are interested in learning more about the 
process, please review the grant funding basics resource at 
www2.ed.gov/documents/funding-101/funding-101-basics.pdf.

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an 
application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to 
Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the 
Federal Register on December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at 
www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs. Please note that these Common Instructions supersede 
the version published on December 27, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cory Neal, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: 
(202) 704-3437. Email: [email protected].
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and 
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Fulbright-Hays GPA Program 
is to promote, improve, and develop the study of modern foreign 
languages and area studies in the United States. The program provides 
opportunities for faculty, teachers, and undergraduate and graduate 
students to conduct group projects overseas. Projects may include 
either (1) short-term seminars, curriculum development, or group 
research or study, or (2) long-term advanced intensive language 
programs.
    This competition invites applicants to submit an application to 
request support for either a Fulbright-Hays GPA short-term project (GPA 
short-term project 84.021A) or a Fulbright-Hays GPA long-term project 
(GPA long-term project 84.021B). Applicants must clearly indicate on 
the SF 424, the Application for Federal Assistance cover sheet, whether 
they are applying for a GPA short-term project (84.021A) or a GPA long-
term project (84.021B). Additional submission requirements are included 
in the application package.
    There are three types of GPA short-term projects: (1) short-term 
seminar projects of 4 to 6 weeks in length designed by the applicant to 
help participants integrate international studies into the curriculum 
at an institution of higher education (IHE) or a school system when 
they return to the United States, by focusing on a particular aspect of 
area studies, such as the culture of an area or country of study (34 
CFR 664.11); (2) curriculum development projects of 4 to 8 weeks in 
length that provide participants the opportunity to acquire resource 
materials for curriculum development in modern foreign language and 
area studies for use and dissemination in the United States (34 CFR 
664.12); and (3) group research or study projects of 3 to 12 months in 
duration designed to give participants the opportunity to undertake 
research or study in a foreign country (34 CFR 664.13).
    GPA long-term projects are advanced overseas intensive language 
programs designed by the applicant that may be carried out during a 
full year, an academic year, a semester, a trimester, a quarter, or a 
summer. GPA long-term projects provide participants an opportunity to 
use and strengthen their advanced language training while experiencing 
the culture in the foreign country. Participants should have 
successfully completed at least 2 academic years of training in the 
language to be studied to be eligible to participate in a GPA intensive 
advanced language training program. In addition, the language to be 
studied must be indigenous to the host country and maximum use must be 
made of local institutions and personnel (34 CFR 664.14).
    Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and five 
competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priority is from the regulations for 
this program (34 CFR 664.32). Competitive Preference Priorities 1 and 2 
are from the notice of final priorities and definitions published in 
the Federal Register on June 16, 2016 (81 FR 39196) (the 2016 NFP); 
Competitive Preference Priority 3 is from the regulations for this 
program (34 CFR 664.32); Competitive Preference Priority 4 is from the 
notice of final priorities published in the Federal Register on 
September 24, 2010 (75 FR 59050) (the 2010 NFP); and Competitive 
Preference Priority 5 is from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 
664.32).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2024, and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is: Specific Geographic Regions of the World.
    A group project that focuses on one or more of the following 
geographic regions of the world: Africa, East Asia, South Asia, 
Southeast Asia and the Pacific, the Western Hemisphere (Central and 
South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean), Eastern and Central Europe 
and Eurasia, and the Near East.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2024, there are five 
competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we 
award 3 additional points to an application that meets Competitive 
Preference Priority 1; 2 additional points to an application that meets 
Competitive Preference Priority 2; 2 additional points for short-term 
projects or 4 additional points for long-term projects to an 
application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 3; 2 additional 
points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 4; 
and 2 additional points to an application that meets Competitive 
Preference Priority 5. Applicants for GPA short-term projects may 
address Competitive Preference Priorities 1, 3, 4, and 5. Applicants 
for GPA long-term projects may address Competitive Preference 
Priorities 2 and 3. In the application narrative, an applicant must 
indicate the priority or priorities being addressed, provide a 
substantive description of how the proposed activities support the 
applicant's selected priority or priorities, and provide documentation 
supporting such claims.
    These priorities are: Competitive Preference Priority 1--
Applications for GPA Short-Term Projects from Selected Institutions and 
Organizations (3 Points).
    Applications for GPA short-term projects from the following types 
of institutions and organizations:
     Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) (as defined in this 
notice);

[[Page 3389]]

     Community colleges (as defined in this notice);
     New applicants (as defined in this notice); or
     State educational agencies (SEAs) (as defined in this 
notice).
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Applications for GPA Long-Term 
Projects from MSIs (2 Points).
    Applications for GPA long-term advanced overseas intensive language 
training projects from MSIs.
    Competitive Preference Priority 3--Substantive Training and 
Thematic Focus on Less Commonly Taught Languages (2 Points for short-
term projects or 4 Points for long-term projects).
    Applications that propose GPA short-term projects (2 points) or GPA 
long-term projects (4 points) that provide substantive training and 
thematic focus on any modern foreign language except French, German, or 
Spanish.
    Competitive Preference Priority 4--Inclusion of K-12 Educators (2 
Points).
    Applications that propose short-term projects abroad that develop 
and improve foreign language studies, area studies, or both at 
elementary and secondary schools by including K-12 teachers or K-12 
administrators as at least 50 percent of the project participants.
    Competitive Preference Priority 5--Thematic Focus on Academic 
Fields (2 Points).
    Applications that propose short-term projects abroad in modern 
foreign languages and area studies with an academic focus on any of the 
following academic fields: science, technology, engineering, 
mathematics, computer science, education (comparative or 
international), international development, political science, public 
health, or economics.
    Definitions: The following definitions are from the 2016 NFP and 
apply to this competition.
    Community college means an institution that meets the definition in 
section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) 
(20 U.S.C. 1058(f)); or an IHE (as defined in section 101 of the HEA 
(20 U.S.C. 1001)) that awards degrees and certificates, more than 50 
percent of which are not bachelor's degrees (or an equivalent).
    Minority-serving institution (MSI) means an institution that is 
eligible to receive assistance under sections 316 through 320 of part A 
of title III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the HEA.
    New applicant means any applicant that has not received a 
discretionary grant from the Department of Education under the 
Fulbright-Hays Act prior to the deadline date for applications under 
this program.
    State educational agency (SEA) means the State board of education 
or other agency or officer primarily responsible for the supervision of 
public elementary and secondary schools in a State. In the absence of 
this officer or agency, it is an officer or agency designated by the 
Governor or State law.
    Program Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2452(b)(6).
    Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner 
consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal 
civil rights laws.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, and 86. (b) 
The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on 
Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 
180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 664. (e) 
The 2010 NFP. (f) The 2016 NFP.
    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$10,311,000 for awards for the Fulbright-Hays Overseas program for FY 
2024, of which we intend to use an estimated $5,159,494 for this 
competition. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final 
congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow 
enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates 
funds for this program.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in future fiscal years from 
the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
    Estimated Available Funds: $5,159,494.
    Estimated Range of Awards:
    GPA short-term projects: $50,000-$180,000.
    GPA long-term projects: $50,000-$300,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards:
    GPA short-term projects: $132,474.
    GPA long-term projects: $250,663.
    Maximum Award: We will not make a GPA short-term award exceeding 
$180,000 for a single project period of 18 months. We will not make a 
GPA long-term project award exceeding $300,000 for a single budget 
period of 24 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 30.
    GPA short-term projects: 20.
    GPA long-term projects: 10.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period:
    GPA short-term projects: Up to 18 months.
    GPA long-term projects: Up to 24 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: (1) IHEs, (2) SEAs, (3) private nonprofit 
educational organizations, and (4) consortia of these entities.
    Eligible Participants: Citizens, nationals, or permanent residents 
of the United States, who are (1) faculty members who teach modern 
foreign languages or area studies at an IHE, (2) teachers in elementary 
or secondary schools, (3) experienced education administrators 
responsible for planning, conducting, or supervising programs in modern 
foreign language or area studies at the elementary, secondary, or 
postsecondary levels, or (4) graduate students, or juniors or seniors 
in an IHE, who plan teaching careers in modern foreign languages or 
area studies.
    Note: If you are a nonprofit organization, under 34 CFR 75.51, you 
may demonstrate your nonprofit status by providing: (1) proof that the 
Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an 
organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State 
taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the 
organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and 
that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private 
shareholder or individual; (3) a certified copy of the applicant's 
certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly 
establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4) any item 
described above if that item applies to a State or national parent 
organization, together with a statement by the State or parent 
organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award 
subgrants to

[[Page 3390]]

entities to directly carry out project activities described in its 
application.
    4. Build America, Buy America Act: This program is not subject to 
the Build America, Buy America Act (Pub. L. 117-58) domestic sourcing 
requirements.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to 
follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of 
Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal 
Register on December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at 
www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs, which contain requirements and information on how to 
submit an application. Please note that these Common Instructions 
supersede the version published on December 27, 2021.
    2. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    3. Funding Restrictions: We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR 
664.33. We reference additional regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, 
the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to 
evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the 
application narrative to no more than 40 pages and (2) use the 
following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial.
    The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet or 
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the 
assurance and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, 
the biography, or letters of support. However, the recommended page 
limit does apply to all of the application narrative.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
from 34 CFR 664.31 and are as follows:
    (a) Plan of operation. (20 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information to 
determine the quality of the plan of operation for the project.
    (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows--
    (i) High quality in the design of the project;
    (ii) An effective plan of management that ensures proper and 
efficient administration of the project;
    (iii) A clear description of how the objectives of the project 
relate to the purpose of the program;
    (iv) The way the applicant plans to use its resources and personnel 
to achieve each objective; and
    (v) A clear description of how the applicant will ensure that 
project participants who are otherwise eligible to participate are 
selected without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, 
or handicapping condition.
    (b) Quality of key personnel. (10 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information to 
determine the quality of key personnel the applicant plans to use on 
the project.
    (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows--
    (i) The qualifications of the project director;
    (ii) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be 
used in the project;
    (iii) The time that each person referred to in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) 
and (ii) of this section will commit to the project; and
    (iv) The extent to which the applicant, as part of its 
nondiscriminatory employment practices, will ensure that its personnel 
are selected for employment without regard to race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or handicapping condition.
    (3) To determine the qualifications of a person, the Secretary 
considers evidence of past experience and training in fields related to 
the objectives of the project as well as other information that the 
applicant provides.
    (c) Budget and cost effectiveness. (10 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that 
shows that the project has an adequate budget and is cost effective.
    (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows--
    (i) The budget for the project is adequate to support the project 
activities; and
    (ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the 
project.
    (d) Evaluation plan. (20 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that 
shows the quality of the evaluation plan for the project.
    (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows that the methods 
of evaluation are appropriate for the project and, to the extent 
possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable.
    (e) Adequacy of resources. (5 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that 
shows that the applicant plans to devote adequate resources to the 
project.
    (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows that the 
facilities, equipment, and supplies that the applicant plans to use are 
adequate.
    (f) Specific program criteria. (35 points)
    (1) In addition to the general selection criteria contained in this 
section, the Secretary reviews each application for information that 
shows that the project meets the specific program criteria.
    (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows--
    (i) The potential impact of the project on the development of the 
study of modern foreign languages and area studies in American 
education. (15 points)
    (ii) The project's relevance to the applicant's educational goals 
and its relationship to its program development in modern foreign 
languages and area studies. (10 points)
    (iii) The extent to which direct experience abroad is necessary to 
achieve the project's objectives and the effectiveness with which 
relevant host country resources will be utilized. (10 points)
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
requires various assurances, including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial

[[Page 3391]]

assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 
110.23).
    For FY 2024, proposed GPA short-term projects will be reviewed by 
peer review panels with expertise in the world area that is the focus 
of the application. All proposed GPA long-term projects will be 
reviewed by one peer review panel. The International and Foreign 
Language Education office will prepare separate rank order slates for 
GPA short-term projects and GPA long-term projects recommended for new 
awards in FY 2024. Each slate will include the peer reviewers' scores 
for all applications evaluated, from the highest score to the lowest 
score. In cases where several applications have the same final 
numerical score in the rank order listing, and there are insufficient 
funds to support all the applications, the scores under selection 
criterion (f)(2)(iii) will be used as a tiebreaker. If the scores 
remain tied, then the scores under selection criterion (f)(2)(i) will 
be used to break the tie.
    3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.206, before awarding grants under this competition the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
200.208, the Secretary may impose specific conditions and, under 2 CFR 
3474.10, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk conditions on a grant 
if the applicant or grantee is not financially stable; has a history of 
unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or other management system 
that does not meet the standards in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not 
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not 
responsible.
    4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this 
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project 
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently 
$250,000), under 2 CFR 200.206(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your 
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal 
awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make 
an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that 
is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as 
the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System 
(FAPIIS)), accessible through the System for Award Management (SAM). 
You may review and comment on any information about yourself that a 
Federal agency previously entered and that is currently in FAPIIS.
    Please note that, if the total value of your currently active 
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the 
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity 
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal 
funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.
    5. In General: In accordance with Uniform Guidance located at 2 CFR 
part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, 
the Department will review and consider applications for funding 
pursuant to this notice inviting applications in accordance with--
    (a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering 
results based on the program objectives through an objective process of 
evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
    (b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video 
surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) (2 CFR 
200.216);
    (c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to 
maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United 
States (2 CFR 200.322); and
    (d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest 
extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program 
goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to 
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally, 
also.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Open Licensing Requirements: Unless an exception applies, if you 
are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to 
openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in 
part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of 
modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to those 
modifications that can be separately identified and only to the extent 
that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses or 
other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works. 
Additionally, a grantee or subgrantee that is awarded competitive grant 
funds must have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables. 
This dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your 
application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For additional 
information on the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR 
3474.20.
    4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply 
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
    (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final 
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the 
Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual 
performance report that provides the most current performance and 
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance 
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    5. Performance Measures: For the purposes of Department reporting 
under 34 CFR 75.110, the following measure will be used by the 
Department to evaluate the success of the GPA short-term program: the 
percentage of GPA short-term project participants who disseminated 
information about or materials from their group project abroad through 
more than one outreach activity within 6 months of returning to their 
home institution. The following measure will be used by the Department 
to evaluate the success of the GPA long-term program: the percentage of 
GPA long-term project participants who increased their reading, 
writing, and/or listening/speaking foreign language scores by one 
proficiency level. The efficiency of the GPA long-term program will be 
measured by considering the cost per GPA participant who increased his/
her foreign language score in

[[Page 3392]]

reading, writing, and/or listening/speaking by at least one proficiency 
level.
    The information provided by grantees in their performance reports 
submitted via the International Resource Information System (IRIS) will 
be the source of data for this measure. Reporting screens for 
institutions can be viewed at: https://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/gpa_director.pdf and https://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/gpa_participant.pdf.

VII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities 
can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an 
accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an 
accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text 
format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, 
audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this 
document, as well as all other documents of this Department published 
in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To 
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at 
the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

Nasser H. Paydar,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2024-00151 Filed 1-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P


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